US Scientists develop Mitochondrial DNA based COVID 19 test
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Washington, Jan 20: Scientists from the USA have developed a new rapid COVID 19 test to measure mitochondrial DNA in the blood sample of the COVID-19 patients. The test will be highly helpful to identify people at the highest risk of the virus. According to the scientists, the spill out of mitochondrial DNA is the main reason for tissue damage and eventual organ failure especially in lungs, kidney and heart in COVID 19 patients.
The mitochondrial DNA is a unique type of genetic material that normally resides inside the energy factories of the cells. However, in COVID 19 patients the mitochondrial DNA is spilling out of the body cells into the bloodstream, which leads to cell death. Eventually the COVID 19 patients go into hyper inflammatory death. The violent death of cells is called necrosis and is commonly observed in COVID 19 patients. Necrosis is a form of cell injury that results in premature death of cells. This occurs when too little blood flows into the tissue.
Mitochondria is called the power house of the cell. They are membrane bound organelle. It functions as the digestive system of a cell. It promotes growth of new cells and cell multiplication. It is found in both plant cell and animal cell. The Mitochondrial DNA is located in the mitochondria of the body cells. Mitochondria converts chemical energy in food into Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP). The ATP provides energy for muscle contraction and nerve impulse propagation. The mitochondrial DNA is inherited from the mother. Apart from humans, the mitochondrial DNA is also found in algae and fungi.
The major side effect of COVID-19 is inducing mitochondrial reactive oxygen species. The Reactive Oxygen Species are highly reactive chemical molecules. They are formed due to electron acceptability nature of oxygen. Some of the Reactive Oxygen Species are superoxide, peroxides, hydroxyl radical, alpha-oxygen.